Calligraphy & Book Arts

Amanda West Lewis

AMANDA WEST LEWIS is an author, theatre creator, calligrapher and teaching artist.

Amanda took her first calligraphy class when she was 17, studying with Alf Ebson, one of Canada's pre-eminent calligraphers. She went on to study at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Ghost Ranch (New Mexico), in New Hampshire, Rome, Ottawa and Toronto with calligraphers Hermann Zapf, Mark Van Stone Nancy Culmone, Thomas Igmire, among others. She learned historical letterforms, letter carving in slate, sign painting, and various techniques for watercolours, pencil crayons, marble paper, paste paper, book binding, and other book arts skills.

For many years, Amanda taught an historical studio course at the University of Waterloo, teaching the development of letterform from caves to computers. She developed the University's first video course (before the days of online teaching), and subsequently taught the course by correspondence for many years.

Amanda has taught calligraphy and book arts at St. Lawrence College 1000 Islands Summer School of the Arts, Algonquin College, The Calligraphic Society of Ottawa, the Cordwood Studio. and many private programs. Through MASC and Ontario Artists in the Schools she has taught in hundreds of schools, high schools, and workshops throughout Ontario.

As a professional calligrapher and book artist, Amanda worked as a freelance calligrapher for numerous clients including IBM, the City of Ottawa, The Rideau Arts Awards, and the University of Toronto. Her work has been featured in The Letter Arts Review, ABC Canada and in group and solo shows. She has been a member of the the Canadian Book Binders and Artists Guild, The Toronto Calligraphy Guild, the Calligraphic Society of Ottawa, Riverguild Craft Store, and the Perth Autumn Studio Tour.

She has written four books for young people that focus on lettering arts: Writing, a Fact and Fun Book (Kids Can Press, 1992); Lettering: Make Your Own Cards, Signs, Gifts & More (Kids Can Press, 1996); Making Memory Books (Kids Can Press 1999); The Jumbo Book of Paper Crafts (Kids Can Press 2002).

She continues to be passionate about lettering, book binding, and paste paper. These days, her great passion is to create unique pieces for family and friends.